Folding machine



B. BEATTY FOLDING MACHINE Feb. 18, 1941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1959 w W Z] jwewzfov" 4,

4 66 6 W 6 9 J 4 4 5 a n o a fi rm a n O NH l mu 7 0 a ww 9 4 A M 0 has @9:

Feb. 18, 1941. B. BEATTY FOLDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1939 Feb. 18, 1941. B BEATTY 2,231,874

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,vg AT 35 Feb. 18, 1941. BEA Y 2,231,874

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING MACHINE Application September 11, 1939, Serial No. 294,280

15 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in a folding machine and more particularly to amachine of that type in which the edges of pieces of work are folded over onto the body of the work and pressed thereon to provide a hem.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a plurality of folding instrumentalities all of which are reciprocable as a unit and while traveling in one direction feed the work and concomitantly fold the edge thereof and while traveling in the other direction release the work which is held stationary by other means, e. g. a

presser foot of the well-known type.

A further object of this invention is to provide a reciprocable plow by which the edge to be folded is turned up, which plow when traveling in one direction, moves with the work and, when traveling in the other direction, turns up more of the edge as it moves along behind the stationary work. p

Another object of this invention is to provide transversely oscillating means for folding over the edge turned up by the plow and also transversely oscillating means for slotting the edge of the work as it is being folded over, such lastnamed means oscillating at all times in a direction opposite to that of the first-named means.

These and other objects will appear from an examination of the following description of a machine embodying this invention and of the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof and in which I Fig. 1 is an end view with parts broken away of the head of a machine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of that head on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the lower portion of that head;

40 Fig. 4 is a front view of the frame element of the machine upon which the various folding elements are supported;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the anvil and guide plate;

Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive, illustrate the relation of the folding elements to the work at various stages in the operation thereon;

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of the element by which the edge of the work is folded;

50 Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross section taken alongthe line |4=*-l4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of a typical piece of work which has been operated upon; and

Fig. 16 is a perspective view taken along the line 16-46 in Fig. 15.

The folding machine 10 shown in the accompanying drawings as an illustration of one embodiment of this invention is of the general type used in this art such, for example, as that shown in the patent to Lautenschlager No. 1,121,852 5 dated February 2, 1914, and includes a base ll and an arm I2 overhanding the base, such arm being hollow and open at the bottom. (See Fig.

1.) Pivotally supported in the base H and arm 12 is a frame l5 substantially rectangular in form 10 as shown in Fig. 4 and upon which are supported all the various folding elements as will be described hereinbelow.

Mounted upon one end of a shaft 20' extending through the arm I2 is a plate 2|. An angle bar 15 22 fixed to the plate 2! near one edge thereof is connected by a link 23 to one leg 24 of a right angle lever 25. The lever 25 is fulcrumed upon a sleeve 26 carried by a rod 21 and its other leg 28 is connected by a link 29 to a rod 30 reciproc- 20 able in the frame I5.

Fixed in the frame 15 and parallel to the rod 30 is a rod 3| carrying at its lower end a transversely extending bar 32. A tongue 33 projects downwardly from the right end of the bar 32 25 and its left end terminates in an outwardly inclined portion 34. The frame 15 includes a plate 35 removably pivoted at its right end to the remainder of the frame (Fig. 4). Integral with the left end of the plate 35 is an anvil 36. The 30 anvil 36 (Fig. 5) comprises a mound 31 at the forward end, a fiat surface 38 separated from the mound 31 by a slot 39, mound 40 at the rear end and a pocket 4| leading from the right end of the slot 39 and bounded bythe surface v 38 and mound 40. The mound 31 is rectangular being tapered rearwardly and to the right and terminating in a flat tip 42 and will hereinafter be designated as a plow for reasons to appear hereinbelow. An arm 43 carried by the portion 40 34 of the bar 32 enters the slot 39 (see Fig. 4) and thus completes the frame l5. Mounted upon the base II is a plate 45 upon which the work rests and is guided, said plate having an opening 46 in the right edge thereof in which opening 45 the anvil 36 reciprocates as will he described later and a tongue 41 which extends into the opening and above the front corner of the anvil at the left of the plow 31 (Fig. 5). Adjustably mounted 'upon the front face of the arm 43 is a finger 48 having a recess 49 at its lower end which extends over the tip 42 of the plow'31 and by which the edge of the work is to be guided.

Fulcrumed upon the rear face of the tongue 33 is a right angle lever, one leg 50 of which carries at its left end a knife 5I the cutting edge 52 of which is concave (Fig. 2). The other leg 53 of the lever extends above the bar 32 and is provided with a forwardly projecting stud 54. Vertically reciprocal through a sleeve 55 carried by a boss 56 and the bar 32 with which the boss is integral, is a rod 51. Adjustably fixed to the rod 51 is a plate 58 having an opening which receives the rod 31. At the lower end of the rod 51 is fixed a work holding foot 59. Surrounding the sleeve 55 and rod 5'! is a coil 69 the endsof which bear upon the under face of the bar 32 and upper end of the foot 59. The toe 6| of the foot 59 is adapted to hold the work upon the flat surface 38 of 'the anvil.

Clamped to the upper end of the sleeve 55 is a split block 62 from which projects a pin 63. Fulcrumed on the pin 63 is a right angle lever having a hub 64 and legs 65 and 66. Carried *y the leg 65 is a latch 61 provided with a notch 68 in which may be received the stud 54. A spring 69 normally tends to hold the latch and stud in such engagement. Pivoted upon the tongue 33 is a trip plate I9 having a finger 'II in engagement with the tip of the latch 61. A spring I2 fixed at one end to the bar 32 and bearing upwardly against a pin I3 tends to hold the plate I9 against a pin I4 on the bar 32. The spring 69 is fixed at one end to the pin I3. The atch 6'! is thus normally held out of engagement with the stud. When the trip I0 is depressed the spring 69 is free to act upon the latch and move it into engagement with the stud 54.

Supported upon the pin 63 behind the hub 64 is a cam I5 on top of which rests the plate 58 on the rod 51. The leg 66 of the lever and the cam I5 are connected by a bolt I6 to the lower end of a link 11, the upper end .of which link is connected to the stud to which the link 23 is connected. A nut I8 on the bolt I6 between the cam I5 and the link I'I clamps the cam I5 to the leg I55 so that they move in unison. The opening in the cam I5 is enlarged so that the cam may be adjusted about the hub 64 as desired.

A rock shaft passed through an opening 8| in the frame I5 is further supported by a bracket 82 fixed to the underside of the frame. Suspended-from the bracket 82 at the rear of the frame I5 is an arm 83 carrying at its lowerend a shaft 84. The rear end of the rock shaft 80 is connected to the rear end of the shaft 84 by articulated links, 85, 86, and 81 (see Fig. 3). Fixed to the front end of the shaft 84 is a footshaped holder 88 having a heel 89 and toe 90. The heel 89 is narrower than the toe 90 as shown in Fig. 14, for reasons which will appear below. Mounted upon the front end of the shaft 80 is a tappet 9|. The left end (Fig. 2) of the tappet extends below the cam I5 and the right end extends over a limit stop 92 carried by a plate 93 mounted upon the bracket 82. A spring 94 tends to move the tappet clockwise and hold it in contact with the cam I5 and the stop 92 limits such movement.

Fixed to the lower end of the rod 30 is a hammer 95 having a lower surface inclined to that of the mound 40 of the anvil and provided with a notch 96. The anvil 36, plow 31, finger 48, knife 54-, work-holding foot 59, folder 88 and hammer 95 together with the instrumentalities associated therewith, constitute the folding elements of the machine. It will be noted that all such elements are supported by or connected with the frame I5 so that they oscillate in-unison as a unit.

In addition to these folding elements the machine is also provided with a presser foot 91 attached to the lower end of a rod 98, the upper end of such rod being connected to the link 23. The provision of a presser foot in machines of this general type is an old and well-known expedient and no novelty is claimed for such element per se. The foot may be of any suitable construction preferably extending rearwardly past the folding elements as will be apparent from an examination of Figs. 1 and 2, so that the toe 99 is above the tongue 41 of the guide plate 45. Suitable means (not shown) are provided for rotating the shaft 20 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) and for oscillatin the frame I 5 concomitantly therewith.

The vamp I00 shown in Figs. 15 and 16 is completely bounded on its underside by a folded hem IN. The hem has at the inside curved portions I02, a plurality of puckers I03 by which the fullness of the material is taken up and at the outside curved portion I04 a plurality of slots I05 which permit the folding of the material. The edge of the material is scarfed as shown in Fig. 16 so that the periphery of the hem will lie closely against the main body of the vamp.

The operation of the folding machine which follows a sequence of stages will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive. The work I00 is placed on the plate 45 over the anvil 36 with the part to be folded resting on the inclined face of the plow 31. The finger 48 engages the edge of the work and thus determines the width of the hem to be folded. Figs.

6 and 7 show the work held in this position by the presser foot 91 which clamps the work against the tongue 41 of the plate. The other folding elements, e. g. the knife 5|, foot 59, folder 88, and hammer 95 are at this time out of contact with the work.

The rotation of the shaft 20 and the oscillation of the frame I5 previously mentioned control the work folding and feeding operations. As the shaft 20 is rotated the cam I5 is oscillated downwardly and the spring 60 causes the plate,

58 to follow the cam and lowers the foot 59 until the work is clamped against the surface 38 of the anvil. The toe SI of the foot 59, defines the crease line along which the hem is to be folded.

Simultaneously the cam I5 acts upon the tapper 9| and initiates the movement of the folder 88 to the left in Fig. 9 and starts the bending of the work over the toe 6|. If the curved portion I04 is being treated, the operator depresses the mer 95 starts its descent, and as it is being low-" ered, the workwhich is clamped by the foot 59 against the anvil is advanced together with all the foldin elements as a unit.

Before this advance of the work has been com-,

pleted the folded hem is clamped by the hammer 95 against the mound 40 of the anvil. Prior to being introduced to the folding machine, the scarfed edge of the work is usually treated with a suitable adhesive, e. g. rubber cement,so that,

under the pressure of the hammer 95 it will be traveling in one direction, to feed the work concomitantly with the folding of the edge thereof,

fixed in position. While the work is so clamped in position by the hammer 95 the foot 59 is raised and at the same time the presser foot 91 is lowered. On its upward travel the toe 6| of the foot 59 raises that portion of the hem which has just been wiped down. by the folder 88 which is not under the hammer 95. Since the folded edge is held by the hammer 95 this movement of the foot 59 acts to smooth the edge which it raises and to remove any wrinkles therefrom. When the work has been clamped by the presser foot 91 against the stationary work plate 45, the hammer is raised and the folding elements are moved as a unit to the right to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7. During this movement the plow 31 traveling back of the edge of the work raises such edge into contact with the guide finger 48. The sequence of operations just described is repeated.

It will be noted that the heel 89 of the holder 88 is narrower than the toe 90 being tapered at the rear side (see Fig. 14). This construction is of particular value when the edge is folded along an inside curve, for example the curve I02 in Fig. 15. Under such conditions there is an excess fullness in the periphery which must be accommodated. As set forth above the portion of the edge to be wiped over the folder 88 has been smoothed by the upward movement of the foot 59. When the folder 88 starts its wiping action, the heel 89 strikes the upstanding edge at one end of the length to be acted upon by the foot and moves that portion ahead of the other end so that when the toe wipes over it the end, not folded by the heel, is laid under the hammer and produces a pucker. Thus as shown in Fig. 15, the puckers I93 are the parts wiped only by the toe 99 alone and the smooth portions are the parts wiped by both the heel 89 and the toe 99. The base of the hammer 95 is of such length that the folded edge is acted upon several times as the work is being fed and the transverse notch 96 therein is so positioned that as the hammer descends, the pucker of the portion being folded is pushed by the folder under the hammer to enter the notch 96. This is of particular advantage when the fold is at an inside curve and. puckers I03 are formed to take care of the fullness which necessarily exists.

In the above description of the operation it has been assumed that the knife 5| is actuated. This however would only be under conditions such as exist when an outside curve, for example H34, in Fig. 15. Normally the latch 61 would be held by the finger ll of the trip plate 10 in the position shown in Fig. 2 and hence would oscillate idly while the knife 5| would remain stationary in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7 and would not interfere with the folding over of the edge of the work.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that I am not limited thereto and that other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding machine, .a plurality of folding instrumentalities, all said folding instrumentalities being reciprocable as a unit and acting, when traveling in one direction, to feed the work concomitantly with the folding of the edge thereof.

2. In a folding machine, a plurality of folding instrumentalities, all said folding instrumentalities being reciprocable as a unit and acting, when and a presser foot by which the work is held stationary during the movement of such instrumentalities in the opposite direction. '3. In a folding machine, a plurality of folding instrumentalities, all said folding instrumentalities being reciprocable as a unit and acting, when traveling in one direction, to feed the work concomitantly with the folding of the edge thereof/1'0 and including an anvil against which the work is clamped during said concomitant work feeding and folding.

4. In a folding machine, a plurality of folding instrumentalities, all said folding instrumentalities being reciprocable as a unit and acting when traveling in one direction, to feed the work concomitantly with the folding of the edge thereof and including an anvil against which the work is clamped during said concomitant work feed- 2 ing and folding, and a presser foot by which the work is held stationary during the movement of such instrumentalities in the opposite direction.

'5. In a folding machine a plurality of folding instrumentalities including an anvil, mounted upon the anvil by which the edge of the work to be folded is turned up, a work holding foot which clamps the work to the anvil .adia-cent the plow and a folder by which the edge a plow" 5 of the clamped work is wiped over the foot, said 30 anvil, and foot being reciprocable to feed the workdu'ring such wiping operation.

6. In a folding machine a plurality of folding instrumentalities including an anvil, a plow mounted upon the anvil by which the edge of 35 the work to be folded is turned up, a work holding foot which clamps the work to the anvil adjacent the plow, a folder by which the edge of the clamped work is wiped over the foot, a

mound mounted upon the anvil and a hammer 40 by which a previously folded edge is clamped to the mound, said anvil, foot and hammer being reciprocable to feed the work while so clamped.

'7. In a folding machine a plurality of folding instrumentalities including an anvil, a work hold- 45 ing foot by which the work is clamped to the anvil, a folder by which the edge of the work is wiped over the foot, a hammer by which a previously folded edge portion is clamped against the anvil and means for raising the foot to 5 smooth the edge which has just been wiped down by the folder, said means actingwhile the work is clamped by the hammer againstthe anvil.

8. In a folding machine a plurality of folding instrumentalities including an anvil, a work-hold- 55 ing foot by which the work is clamped to the anvil, a folder by which the edge of the work is wiped over the foot, a hammer by which a previously folded edge portion is clamped against the anvil and means for raising the foot to smooth the edge which has just been wiped down by the folder, said means acting while the work is clamped by the hammer against the anvil, said anvil, foot and hammer being reciprocable as a unit to feed the work while clamped therebeanvil, a folder by which the edge of the work is wiped over the foot, a hammer by which a previously folded edge portion is clamped against the anvil and means for raising the foot to smooth the edge which has just been wiped down by the folder, said means acting while the work is clamped by the hammer against the anvil and a presser foot by which the work is held stationary when the anvil, foot and hammer have re leased the work and are moved in the direction opposite to that in which the work is fed.

- a toe which completes the wiping operation, said heel being narrower than said toe so that the portion engaged by the heel is moved toward the foot in advance of the remainder of the length being wiped whereby when an inside curve is being folded the remainder of the length forms a pucker at one side of the portion engaged by the heel.

11. In a folding machine a plurality of folding instrumentalities including an anvil, a workholding foot by which the work is clamped to the anvil, a folder by which the edge of the work is wiped over the foot, a hammer by which a previously folded edge is clamped against the anvil, and means for raising the foot while the edge is so clamped to smooth the edge which has just been wiped down by the folder, said smoothed edge portion being thereafter clamped by the hammer against the anvil.

12. In a folding machine a plurality of folding instrumentalities including an anvil over which the work is fed, a work-holding foot by which the work is clamped to the anvil, a folder by which the edge of the work is wiped over the foot,

means for raising said foot to smooth the edge which has been wiped thereover and a hammer by which the wiped and later smoothed edge is pressed down upon the remainder of the work and clamped against the anvil.

13. In a folding machine a plurality of folding instrumentalities including an anvil over which the work is fed, a work-holding foot by which the work is clamped to the anvil, an oscillatable folder by the movement of which in one direction the edge of the work is wiped over the foot and an oscillatable knife which moves in the direction opposite to that of the folder and slits the edge of the work as it is being folded.

14. In the art of folding the edge of a sheet to form a hem at the periphery thereof the steps of wiping such edge over a foot by which the work is clamped, of raising such foot to smooth the wiped edge, of refolding such edge and of thereafter pressing the edge to the remainder of the work and thereby setting the hem.

15. In the art of folding the edge of a sheet to form a hem at the periphery thereof the steps of wiping such edge over a foot by which the work is clamped, of clamping the edge previously folded in advance of the portion wiped, of raising the foot to smooth the wiped edge, while the previously folded edge is clamped, of refolding such edge and of thereafter pressing such edge to the remainder of the work and thereby setting the hem.

BRYAN BEA'IIY. 

